The devoted mum and grandma of a severely disabled boy are celebrating a huge milestone this week, as their pride and joy starts school.

Like many other children, McKenzie Moore, four, from Pallister Park, will be pulling on his uniform for the very first time and beginning his school days in reception at Priory Woods.

And just as it is for many other parents and grandparents, it will be an emotional time for mum Gemma, 23, and gran Michelle - but for very different reasons to most people.

Because after being given the devastating news by doctors that McKenzie would be unlikely to see his first birthday, seeing the happy little lad start school is a day they thought they would never see.

Michelle said: “He is starting full time in reception. We didn’t think he would be doing this. We didn’t think he would see a year-old. It’s unbelievable and amazing really.”

McKenzie with grandad Lee Moore

McKenzie was born with water on the brain and has several disabilities.

He is deaf, partially sighted and has to be fed through a tube for 20 hours a day.

As a result, he requires round the clock care, including the tiring task of having someone to watch over him throughout the night, when he is on a ventilator to help him breathe.

Only last week, he was released from James Cook University Hospital permanently, after his mum and gran were trained how to care for him overnight and how to use his ventilator.

Now, he is ready to go out into the big wide world of school on his own.

But Michelle admits: “Gemma doesn’t want him to go and it’s a big change. But she sees it will do him so much good as well.”

Michelle said the amazing milestone was down to staff at James Cook’s paediatric intensive care unit and the Cleveland unit, who have been supporting him and providing lifesaving care ever since he was born.

“They are all just brilliant,” she said.

“It’s unbelievable that he’s been discharged from hospital for good and now he is starting school. We are all just over the moon with him.”